A Michael Feinstein Holiday Celebration

Valley Performing Arts Center (The Soraya) welcomes back two-time Emmy nominee and five-time Grammy nominee Michael Feinstein to perform in a Holiday Celebration including Classic Standards as well as selections from his album, "A Michael Feinstein Christmas" on Friday, December 8 at 8:00 p.m.

Michael Feinstein has built a dazzling career over the last three decades bringing the music of the Great American Songbook to the world: recordings that have earned him his Grammy nominations, his Emmy nominated PBS-TV specials, his acclaimed NPR series and concerts spanning the globe, appearances at The White House, Buckingham Palace, Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall and Sydney Opera House -- and his work as an educator and archivist -- all of this defines Feinstein as one of the most important musical forces of our time.

Although Feinstein was raised in a conservative synagogue in Columbus Ohio, he has a deep affinity for traditional Christmas songs, many of which were written by Jewish songwriters.

He explains in an interview with the Chicago Tribune, "The Christmas songs that are popular are not about Jesus, but about sleigh bells, Santa and the trappings of Christmas. Any singer who is a singer of the American Songbook will sing Christmas songs. We all sing them."

Over his storied career, Feinstein has worked with some of culture's biggest names including Broadway legend Barbara Cook, Dr. Maya Angelou, Bette Midler, Liza Minnelli, Oscar winner Andre Previn and many more. Through his live performances, recordings, film and television appearances, and his songwriting (in collaboration with Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Lindy Robbins, Bob Merrill and Marshall Barer), Feinstein is an all-star force in American music.

Tickets for "A Michael Feinstein Holiday Celebration," which start at $38, can be purchased by calling 818-677-3000 or visiting www.valleyperformingartscenter.org. Additional holiday programming for VPAC (The Soraya) includes "Fiesta Mexicana: Feliz Navidad" (December 9) and The Klezmatics (December 16).